Gov. Chris Christie today vetoed three bills that would have increased state spending for family planning centers and FamilyCare health insurance and provided a tax credit to home-buyers.

Christie said the bills would have added $132 million in spending to a state budget that can’t handle it:

Homebuyer tax credits, $100 million over three years. Technically, would would be a tax revenue loss, rather than direct spending.

FamilyCare, $24.6 million. Restores funding to an existing program.

Women’s health and family planning services, $7.453 million.

“I cannot approve legislation, no matter how meritorious, when the state simply cannot afford it,” Christie wrote in a veto message.

Although the push to restore the family planning funds has had the highest profile in recent weeks, Democrats quickly responded first with three news releases and a news conference criticizing the tax-credit veto, then with missives aimed at the family-planning veto.

“This veto is a critical mistake that will damage our economy for years. It is catastrophic for New Jersey,” said Assm. Louis Greenwald. “… This stunning veto is another example of Gov. Christie’s clear lack of understanding in what it means to be a middle-class and lower-income New Jerseyan struggling just to make ends meet.”

“This cruel and heartless veto is the height of arrogance and irresponsibility,” Assm. Linda Stender said of the family-planning veto.

The tax credit veto passed both houses by veto-proof majorities, and the family planning funds passed the Senate by a similarly large margin. Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean Jr. says that Christie’s veto would be sustained if Senate President Stephen Sweeney schedules an override vote.

“Having thoroughly analyzed Governor Christie’s full message and having discussed the state of our finances with members of the Republican caucus, there is strong support for maintaining a balanced budget,” Kean said. “Should Senate President Sweeney determine the need to call another vote on these measures, there will not be enough support to spend money we do not have.”

In the Governor’s Office news release, the administration continues to cite its closure of an $11 billion structural shortfall in new FY2011 budget — despite Christie having criticized as “fake” an Office of Legislative Services estimate, employing the same formula, of a $10.5 billion shortfall looming in FY12.

Christie said in two of today’s veto messages that “it would be patently irresponsible” to approve additional spending given the OLS projection, which was requested by Assembly Democrats.

“The days of having it both ways are over,” Christie wrote.

“I am pleased to report to the people of New Jersey that the hands are back on the wheel, state spending has been reset to levels that the taxpayers can afford and that supplemental spending that would return to the unchecked spending and out of control budget shortfalls of the past will not make it past the governor’s desk,” Christie wrote.